THE MIGRATIONS OF THE SKYLARK 227 



southern, and midland counties.^ After October this 

 immigration falls off. The November movements vary- 

 according to the weather, but are never of great moment 

 after the first few days of the month, when in most 

 years they practically cease. 



It is characteristic of this immigration that the 

 passage across the North Sea is chieHy witnessed during 

 the daytime, usually from dawn to noon, but not 

 infrequently onwards till 4 p.m., and that the birds con- 

 cerned in it are actually crossing the line of flight taken 

 by the home-bred birds which are then emigrating — a 

 very remarkable occurrence, but not in October very 

 uncommon. Other species which cross the North Sea 

 at the same time as the Skylarks are Starlings, Meadow- 

 Pipits, Tree - Sparrows, Redstarts, Willow - Warblers, 

 Chaffinches, and Rooks. 



My investigations at the Kentish Knock light- 

 vessel in the autumn of 1903 lead me to believe that 

 Skylarks in numbers also reach our shores along this 

 route by night passages. My reasons for this conviction 

 have already been stated when treating of the migra- 

 tions of the Song-Thrush (p. 215). During my sojourn 

 in the lightship, many Skylarks appeared at the lantern, 

 along with Wheatears, Redstarts, Spotted Flycatchers, 

 Tree-Pipits, Whitethroats, Willow- Warblers, Blackbirds, 

 Pied Flycatchers, Goldcrests, Chaffinches, Jackdaws, 

 Rooks, Mistle-Thrushes, Song-Thrushes, and Starlings.^ 

 In addition to these movements from east to west. 

 Skylarks are observed at the North Goodwin lightship, 



^ It is a most remarkable fact that many of these Skylarks from Central 

 Europe, which winter in England, pass the cold season in latitudes north of 

 their summer homes. 



^ For the author's personal observations on these movements, see 

 Chapter XVIII., Vol. II. 



